#oc: august beckette

[quiddlegoose]

DAY TWELVE: PALETTE (blue edition)

just a low effort august for today :3

[quibblegoobe]

happy pride from blue rose valley!!

(please reblog. this took forevr. looking at u with my big sad wet eyes)

[etdraconis]

Updated Muse List

Bold denotes primary/main muses, underlined denotes secondary muses, Italics denotes tertiary/low muse, * denotes request only

Dragon Age Canons:

Cremisius Aclassi

Anders

Zevran Arainai

Blackwall

Eleanor Cousland

Fergus Cousland

Fenris

Bethany Hawke

Carver Hawke

Nathaniel Howe

Thomas Howe

The Iron Bull

Anora Mac Tir

Loghain Mac Tir

Josephine Montilyet

Dorian Pavus

Cassandra Pentaghast

Cullen Rutherford

Varric Tethras

Alistair Theirin

Cailan Theirin

Maric Theirin

Dragon Age OCs:

Arden Aclassi

August Amell

Elizabeth Amell

Julian Amell

Oliver Amell

Rosalie Amell

Pyke Brosca

Elysia Caius

Amara Cousland

Brennon Cousland

Lauryl Cousland

Victoire Ducet

Callum Hawke

Kenton Hawke

Leanore Hawke

Hava Lavellan

Theron Mahariel

Kalva Sabrae

Alim Surana

Aurelia Tabris

Claire Trevelyan

Declan Trevelyan

Evelyn Trevelyan

Everett Trevelyan

Maxwell Trevelyan

Persephone Trevelyan

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Elain Archeron

Feyre Archeron

Nesta Archeron

Azriel

Cassian

Jurian

Kallias

Rhysand

Tarquin

Eris Vanserra

Lucien Vanserra

Bridgerton

Sophie Beckett

Benedict Bridgerton

Colin Bridgerton

Eloise Bridgerton

Francesca Bridgerton

Gregory Bridgerton

Hyacinth Bridgerton

Felicity Featherington

Penelope Featherington

Gareth St. Claire

Gwendolyn Sinclaire

Kendall Sinclaire

Alexander Thorne

Charlotte Thorne

Lillian Thorne

Sebastian Thorne

William Thorne

Crescent City

Aidas

Juniper Andromeda

Fury Axtar

Baxian Argos

Ariadne

Hunt Athalar

Lidia Cervos

Ruhn Danaan

Declan Emmet

Hypaxia Enador

Danika Fendyr

Tristan Flynn

Connor Holstrom

Ithan Holstrom

Tharion Ketos

Bryce Quinlan

Rigelus

The Empyrean Saga

Andarna

Jack Barlowe

Imogen Cardulo

Ridoc Gamlyn

Aaric Greycastle

Liam Mairi

Sloane Mairi

Rhiannon Matthias

Brennan Sorrengail

Lilith Sorrengail

Mira Sorrengail

Violet Sorrengail

Grishaverse

Kaz Brekker

The Darkling

Jesper Fahey

Inej Ghafa

Matthias Helvar

Fedyor Kaminsky

Tamar Kir-Bataar

David Kostyk

Nikolai Lantzov

Zoya Nazyalensky

Genya Safin

Alina Starkov

Wylan Van Eck

Tolya Yul-Bataar

Nina Zenik

Percy Jackson

Annabeth Chase

Nico Di Angelo

Jason Grace

Percy Jackson

Piper McLean

Will Solace

Leo Valdez

Throne of Glass

Aedion Ashryver*

Sam Cortland

Lysandra Ennar

Aelin Galathynius

Evalin Galathynius

Dorian Havilliard

Fenrys Moonbeam

Chaol Westfall

Rowan Whitethorn*

The Witcher

Jaskier

Geralt of Rivia

Yennifer of Vengerberg

Other Book Muses

Daniel Arlington V (Ninth House)

Aziraphale (Good Omens)

Crowley (Good Omens)

Alexander Clairemont-Diaz (Red, White, and Royal Blue)

Arthur Delacey (Gwen and Art Are Not in Love)

Galaxy Stern (Ninth House)

Greek Mythology

Aphrodite

Apollo

Ares

Aristeus

Artemis

Asclepius

Hades

Hera

Hermes

Patroclus

Persephone

Poseidon

Zeus

DnD/Fantasy OCs

Jalana Astorio (human warlock)

Tarquin Auglathia (sea-elf rogue)

Nedri Autumnblaze (half-orc ranger)

Azure (water genasi monk)

Anders Brightwood (human bard)

Caerlin (tiefling arcane trickster rogue)

Drake (Wild Hunt shifter ranger)

Elianis Galonodel (half-elf druid)

Naivara Galonodel (half-elf mastermind rogue)

Taron Galonodel (wood elf bard)

Rhys Le'Quella (eladrin wizard)

Makaria (tiefling paladin)

Reya (tiefling storm sorcerer)

Alwyn Sulian (sun elf paladin)

Auryn Sulian (sun elf fighter)

Cerys Sulian (sun elf celestial warlock)

Emrys Sulian (sun elf shadow magic sorcerer)

Cloak Timbers (gnome cleric)

Hollis Tremaine (human fighter)

Other/modern OCs

Destin Michaels (merman)

Novah Michaels (mermaid)

Cassian Sage (werewolf)

Sophie Sage (werewolf)

Reina Solace (werewolf)

Hazel Thatcher (werewolf)

Nicolai Voss (vampire)

[sysba]

my characters

* thought i’d post this list that was sitting in my drafts; not all of them because i have too many but have some (if) ocs ♡

ORIGINAL / MISC VERSES

edith blake. original, the wayhaven chronicles, the exile verse ♡ she/any (queer). november 13th. fc: laura james. 5′11/181cm. ROs: cal, adam du mortain. connections: kiara kingston (sister). 

freddie han. ear candy verse. ♡ he/him (m). february 14th. fc: christian yu. 5′9/174cm. ROs: shiloh rue, winslow montgomery. connections: ryuwon han (sister).

ryuwon han. straight red verse. ♡ she/her (f). nicknames: ryu. fc: kim do-yeon. 5′10/179cm. ROs: jude schofield. connections: freddie han (brother).

zoe beckett. original (modern gods verse), the wayhaven chronicles ♡ she/her (f). fc: misc. 6′/184cm. ROs: veera, nat sewell. connections: jada beckett-jones (cousin). tag.

A MAGE REBORN

atalanta daenys ♡ she/they (nb). specialty: spiritism + alchemy. fc: misc. 5′7/170cm. ROs: elias revelois.

ANDROMEDA SIX

ersa altalune peg’asi ♡ she/her (agender). species: kitalphan. fc: emily browning. 5′1/154cm. ROs: vexx serif.

ATTOLLO

nefta gil ♡ she/her (f). august 15th. fc: misc. 5′1/156cm. ROs: sysba, dreamwalker.

BLOOD MOON

selene king ♡ she/her (f). beta. fc: phoebe tonkin. 5′7/172cm. ROs: farroq khan.

starling baluyot ♡ she/they (nb). alpha. fc: beatrice laus. 5′3/161cm. ROs: marco.

BLOOMING PANIC

anya petrova ♡ she/they (genderfluid). username: gothitax. fc: florzoye on ig. 5′1/155cm. ROs: nakedtoaster, toastyx.

BODY COUNT

kim ngo ♡ they/them (nb). fc: naomi roestel. 5′10/178cm. ROs: arthur campbell.

angelica vaughan ♡ she/her (f). nicknames: angie. fc: benedetta gargari. 5′8/172cm. ROs: vinh nguyen.

CHECKMATE IN 3 MOVES

cahya vinteren ♡ she/her (f). fc: brianne tju. 5′1/154cm. ROs: noir zu, jareth january.

diamond emeraude vinteren ♡ she/they (nb). fc: savannah smith. 5′7/170cm. ROs: sailor bones, hawthorne (spilt milk).

CHOICES: BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS

nehal nightbloom ♡ she/all (genderfluid). species: elf. fc: misc. 5′11/180cm. ROs: all. tbd.

CHOICES: OPEN HEART

victoria torres ♡ she/her (f). nicknames: vic, v. fc: tashi rodriguez/ giovana cordeiro. 5′1/155cm. ROs: bryce lahela.

COLLEGE TENNIS: ORIGIN STORY

angel rivas ♡ they/he (nb). fc: omar rudberg. 5′9/175cm. style: all-court player. doubles partner: rayyan. ROs: rayyan afiq. 

FIELDS OF ASPHODEL

persephone ♡ she/any (agender). fc: misc/anya chalotra. 5′6/167cm. ROs: hades, tbd. tag.

INFAMOUS

kate hanna ♡ they/them (nb). august 23rd. full name: kateebah. stage name: arkane (prev: rickety kate). band: dance of the planets. genre(s): alt-rock, pop punk. fc: nour rizk. 6′2/187cm. ROs: seven lawless.

sung-won kang ♡ she/they (f). december 15th. nicknames: sunni, lucky. stage name: lady luck. band: WBM. genre(s): pop rap, R&B, hip-hop, EDM. fc: jeon so-yeon/kang min-ah. 5′7/169cm. ROs: griffin reign + victoria valentine, orion quinn.

OUR LIFE

jamie last ♡ they/them (nb). fc: tbd. 6′/182.5cm. ROs: cove holden.

cierra last ♡ she/her (f). nicknames: cherry. fc: kendra bailey/misc. 6′/182.5cm. ROs: derek suarez. 

marina howard ♡ she/her (f). fc: yvonne logan. 5′/153cm. ROs: baxter ward.

PERFUMARE

sharona west. real name: milagros ramon. ♡ she/her (nb). fc: lizeth selene. 5′3.5/161cm. ROs: flavio esposito.

naomi morren. real name: naomi kurosawa ♡ she/they (f). fc: rina fukushi. 5′10/179cm. ROs: reed esposito, laurent rosier.

PROJECT HADEA

sidra. real name: yuna arai. ♡ they/he (nb). fc: misc. 5′7/169cm. ROs: nash, rohan.

gienah. real name: izzi muhammad ♡ she/they (nb). fc: bonzaimai on ig/misc. 5′9/176cm. ROs: rhaxa. 

SCOUT: AN APOCALYPSE STORY

jamilah durant ♡ she/her (f).   nicknames: jam. fc: sharon alexie. 5′6/168cm. ROs: oliver shen.

SHEPHERDS OF HAVEN

shanna wenrys ♡ she/they (f/nb). fc: misc. 4′11.5/151cm. ROs: blade bronwyn.

kiran rhune ♡ they/them (nb/genderfluid). fc: misc. 5′2.5/159cm. ROs: red antiqua.

SPEAKER

kassandra farhat ♡ she/they (nb). nicknames: kass. fc: jamie gray-hyder. 5′11/179cm. ROs: li cowles, sebastian wynric. connections: sebille (sister), scooby boo (dog).

SUPERSTITION

sage roe ♡ she/her (f). fc: zoë kravitz. 5′2/157cm. ROs: zillah. 

THE BASTARD OF CAMELOT

mordred pendragon ♡ she/they/he (genderqueer). fc: tbd. ROs: galahad du lac.

THE EXILE

farja ja’qhar ♡ she/her (f). title: painted phoenix. fc: misc. 5′1/155cm. ROs: syfyn.

nathair cheronobog ♡ he/him (m). title: gilded gorgon. fc: noen eubanks. 6′5/196cm. ROs: vethna, +nikke.

neamhain rezoth ♡ they/them (nb). title: deathless demon. fc: tbd. ROs: freedom.

saeha lygris ♡ he/him (m). title: white wolf. fc: park seonghwa. 5′8/174cm. ROs: sabir + nikke.

THE MIDNIGHT HOURS

reyna santos ♡ she/her (f). fc: shay mitchell. 5′4/161cm. ROs: rylan villanueva.

ziv mays ♡ they/them (nb). fc: jaiiy d. moses. 6′/183cm. ROs: blane rekner.

salvador soto ♡ he/they (m). nicknames: chava. fc: misc/cristo fernández. 6′3/190.5cm. ROs: k de vries. 

THE WAYHAVEN CHRONICLES

[link]

[alltimefail-sims]

Today I'm sharing my Strangerville OCs full names, birthdays and zodiac signs because I realized I've never done that and it would probably be a good idea to document these things so I don't forget them!

(Help me my brain is so tired this took forever.)

ANYWAY my ramblings are under the cut if you're curious ↓

Zoe Renee Tate: February 10th, Aquarius

Erwin Michael Pries: October 15th, Libra

Tashia Latrice Moore : August 9th, Leo

Anwar ibn Samir ibn Hadi al Nabih: August 24th, Virgo

***** Note that Anwar's secondary names are not actually "middle names" as the western format would assume, but they actually are his father's name (Samir) and his grandfather's name (Hadi). In other words, his name would be "Anwar, son of Samir, son of Hadi. He only uses this formality in certain settings, mainly in the presence of his family and other Arabic-speaking people. Nabih is his family's identifying surname (which they actually chose for the sake of fitting western naming conventions when his father's family left Palestine three-or-so generations before Anwar was even born). Since most of his life has been lived in America, he has always just gone by Anwar Nabih in school/with coworkers/etc. "for the sake of simplicity and maintaining sanity."

Junia "June" Ahyoka Cahill - May 7th, Taurus

*****Note that Junia's mother was Hispanic (dad's side) and Cherokee (mom's side), so Junia's middle name pays homage to their native roots. It means "She brought happiness." Junia didn't actually have a middle name at birth, she received it once her mother felt she knew her daughter well enough to give her a native name that "reflected her true nature." (Junia was around 7 years old).

Bonus: Margaret Diedre Pries - June 29th, Cancer

Theodore Beckett Roswell III - January 3rd, Capricorn

*****Note that Beckett is named after his father, Ted Roswell (II) and his grandfather Ted Roswell (I), but he goes by his middle name "Beckett" when the story takes off. His mom actually calls him "Theo" though, as did the Strangerville locals who watched him grow up.

[broodingmystery]

Okay so....

I have some OC muses that I've only been using on d!scord and I kinda wanna bring them here if anyone is interested;

They are all ST oc's and yes, they are all music related fc's. I don't know if I will bring them over here, if I do that means I really need to work on their bios which Ive been putting off for over a month now for most of them at least, some of them are still new to the mix.

Knox Beckett;Full Name; Knox Beckett | Nickname; None | Face claim; Noah Sebastian | Gender; Male | Pronouns; He/Him | Marital Status; Single | Sexuality; Bisexual | Age; 27 | Date Of Birth; July | Occupation; Lead Singer | Residence; Hawkins, Indiana | Family; Lux [Sister]

Full Name; Lux Beckett | Nickname; None | Face claim; Halsey | Gender; Female | Pronouns; She/Her | Marital Status; Single | Sexuality; Demisexual/Bisexual | Age; 21 | Date Of Birth; August 5th | Occupation; Band Promoter | Residence; Hawkins, Indiana | Family; Knox [Brother]

Full Name; Nathan Emerson | Nickname; Nate | Face claim; Ben Bruce | Gender; Male | Pronouns; He/Him | Marital Status; Single | Sexuality; Bisexual | Age; 22 | Date Of Birth; 1964 | Occupation; Guitarist | Residence; California & Indiana | Species; Human | Family; Gareth [Brother]

Full Name; Jameson Buckley  | Nickname; None | Face claim; Josh Katz  | Gender; Male | Pronouns; He/Him  | Marital Status; Single | Sexuality; Bisexual/Tends to lean more towards males| Age; 22 | Date Of Birth; 1964 | Occupation; Lead singer | Residence; Hawkins Indiana | Family; Minerva Buckley [Grandmother] & Robin Buckley [Cousin]

Full Name;  Charlotte Munson | Nickname; None | Face claim;  Amy Lee | Gender; Female | Pronouns; She/Her | Marital Status; Widowed  | Sexuality; Pansexual | Age; 43 | Date Of Birth; 1943 | Occupation; Unknown | Residence; Hawkins, Indiana | Family; Wayne Munson [Brother],  Edward [Son]

Full Name; Sloan Sinak | Nickname; None | Face claim; Demi Lovato | Gender; Female | Pronouns; She/Her | Marital Status; Single | Sexuality; Bisexual | Age; 25 | Date Of Birth; December 7th | Occupation; DJ | Residence; Hawkins, Indiana | Family; None

[ryttu3k]

[january] [february] [march] [april] [may] [june] [july] [august] [september] [october] [november] [december]

Year in review art meme! Man there's some pretty distinct fandom phases there.

Fandoms: Hell Followed With Us: 1, Tears of the Kingdom: 2, Vampire the Masquerade: 4, Baldur's Gate 3: 4

Characters: Benji: 1, Tavias (OC): 1, Ilias: 1, the Dracon: 1, Zelda: 1, Beckett: 1, Anatole: 1, Karlach: 1, Link: 2, Sascha/Myca: 3, Astarion: 3

Media: Pen and paper: 3, digital: 8

...Yeah, probably fair to say Astarion has emerged as blordo du jour (blordo du noct?), haha. In fairness, I was using my sketchbook much more at the start of the year, and that's still heavily Sascha-leaning.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

The Elementalists Masterlist 2023

✒️= Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨= Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+

February 2023:

On the Stairs ✒️| Beckett Harrington - @sunnyshiftyy

Sometimes Forever Doesn't Mean Forever ✒️| Beckett Harrington x F!MC - @sunnyshiftyy

May 2023:

Fire & Water: Part 1 ✒️| Shreya Mistry x M!MC - @korgbelmont

August 2023:

Beckett Harrington x F!MC Fic ✒️| @mortemersgf

September 2023:

The Elementalists Book 3 - Show Chapter ✒️| Beckett Harrington x MC - @perfectlysunny02

Fire & Water (Part 3) ✒️| Shreya Mistry x M!OC - @korgbelmont

October 2023:

Griffin x MC x Beckett Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈 by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

Fire & Water (Series) ✒️| Shreya Mistry x M!OC - @korgbelmont Part 4

November 2023:

Elementalists MC 🎨by @/coffeesforchole (IG) for @starsarewithinme

Aster D'Yeew Fanart 🎨by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

Fire & Water (Series) ✒️| Shreya Mistry x M!OC - @korgbelmont Part 5: Finale

December 2023:

Beckett Harrington x MC Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈by @artbyalz

[quiddlegoose]

DAY 31: COSTUME

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

here's the original ppia :3

[sunnyshiftyy]

MASTERLIST

Fanfics (One Shots) (Main Universe)

Date (Shreya convinces Estelle to go on a date with a random guy, and oopsies she spills the tea to Zeph and Beckett as Estelle walks in on their study session in their commonroom.) (May 1st, 2022)

Out Loud (On one of their study dates, Beckett unintentionally puts his feelings into words.) (May 22nd, 2022)

Actually crying in my prom dress (It’s the first time the couple attends a gala at the Harrington estate together, and just before the event starts, Estelle fully realises of the significance of this night.) (June 11th, 2022)

Love is an open door (and mind) (Abandoned parts of libraries are like the perfect make out spot, right?!) (July 29th, 2022)

Timeline for my fics (September 14th, 2022)

On The Stairs (Katrina tells her parents that her girlfriend Julia is attending the gala that’s happening tonight, and emotions run high.)(February 8th, 2023)

Fanfics (AUs)

Sticky situation (pretend-to-be-my-boyfriend-AU) (September 14th, 2022)

Sometimes forever doesn’t mean forever (break-up AU) (February 21st, 2023)

Fanfics (Series)

The Haunted Halloween Predictions (October 2022)

Headcanons

General/worldbuilding

My OC’s in the TE universe (all headcanon) (May 7th, 2022)

Atlas

m!Atlas and m!MC on MC hugging his twin brother. (April 14th, 2022)

Beckett

Beckett and f!MC on a shopping trip for a gala, outfit fluff yeah. (April 23rd, 2022)

Driving (July 28th, 2021)

Videos

Pendpals as funny video’s (July 30th, 2021)

Pictures and meme’s

Just some visuals of the Pend Pals (July 24th, 2021)

Handwriting of the Pend Pals (July 23rd, 2021)

Alignment Chart: Horror movie (April 27th, 2022)

Alignment Chart: The Purge (May 4th, 2022)

Alignment Chart: Can I copy your homework? (May 18th, 2022)

Alignment Chart: Texting styles. (June 4th, 2022)

Alignment Chart: I feel so empty inside.. (August 31st, 2022)

Moodboard: Shreya (September 9th, 2022)

Alignment Chart: Stuck in the vending machine. (September 20th, 2022)

Moodboard: Atlas (January 2nd, 2023)

[haveanotherfandomblog]

Fiery Passions

Part 1: Argentina

Pairing: Benny Weir x POC!OC, Rodrick Heffley x POC!OC

Genre: Angst, Non-Supernatural!AU, Fluff

Word Count: 8.5k

Warnings: Mild Language, Minor Character Death

Masterlist || Next>>

August 19, 2018

Today was a beautiful day for a funeral. For such a miserable day, everything seemed brighter--happier. The grass was more verdant than it had been yesterday, the birds chirped a cheery tune as the casket was lowered into the grave. The yellow and white roses seemed to have captured the sunlight perfectly as they rested on the closed casket. The world was often described as being duller with the loss of a loved one, but this was far from the truth. While we wallowed in self-pity and grief, the world around us does not seem to share our loss. It glows as if nothing happened, mocking our sorrow with its bright and joyous life.

Our young protagonist, Argentina Castillo, had seen death only once before. She was nine years old when she lost her mother. After battling cancer, and the physical strain of giving birth to her youngest brother, it was only a couple months before death took her mother. Her little brother had never really known his mother, and her younger sister barely remembered her. They did, however, remember their grandfather. After the passing of their mother, their grandfather had taken in his five grandchildren. Argentina, her two older siblings, and her two younger siblings. He had helped them with her passing, even though his own heart broke having to bury his child.

For eight years, they were their own happy, little family. Eight years, which had seemed like such a long time, had been turned into a fleeting moment. Argentina watched as they lowered her grandfather into the grave, right next to her mother’s, remembering times of laughter and unbridled joy. As she watched the casket disappear from view, it felt like those memories would be buried with him.

“The Castillo children?” a man asked. Argentina’s older brother, Joaquin, turned to the stranger who stood awkwardly near the children. The stranger was short and skinny. His eyes seemed to pop out of his oddly shaped head. He wore a long, grey coat that seemed too heavy for his scrawny body. His hand was wrapped tightly around the handle of a black, leather suitcase.

“Who’s asking?” Joaquin inquired. He moved to stand in front of his two youngest siblings. Joaquin easily towered over the stranger, his arms crossed over his chest. He had giant muscles that strained against the restraining fabric of his black dress shirt. His narrowed gaze seemed to see straight through the short man. Even though he hadn’t shed a single tear during the entire ceremony, his eyes were bloodshot and tired. This whole situation had aged him well past twenty-three.

“My name is Carnie Wilson,” the man said, shifting from foot to foot as he nervously glanced up at the giant Joaquin. “I’m from New York, in America. Let me first offer my condolences for your loss.” His other hand fidgeted at his side, shaking slightly. “I have come on behalf of your last living relative.”

“We just buried our last living relative.” Argentina’s older sister, Xiomara, had stepped beside Joaquin, her hands wrapped around herself. She was wearing one of their mother’s old dresses. Her hair was lazily pulled away from her face, tears staining her cheeks. “Besides, we don’t have any American relatives.”

“I’m sorry ma’am, but that isn’t true. You are, in fact, related to one Mr. Beckett. He’s your--uncle,” Mr. Wilson told them. The Castillo children looked at each other confused.

“Our mother doesn’t have a brother. She was an only child,” Xiomara said.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Mr. Wilson said. His eyes darted between Joaquin and Xiomara, briefly falling onto the other three Castillo children. “However, your father had a brother.” There was a moment of shocked silence as Mr. Wilson’s words sunk in. He offered them a tight-lipped smile. “I know this is a lot to take in. Perhaps there’s some place where we can talk privately?” Joaquin nodded.

It was some time before the Castillo children and Mr. Wilson were able to return to the Castillo residence. Their entire small town in Guatemala had come to the funeral. Their grandfather had been loved by so many others. Each person told a different story about how helpful and thoughtful their grandfather had been. Each story pulled at Argentina’s heart, filling her with sorrow and visibly upsetting her sensitive, little sister, Esmeralda.

“Now that we’re somewhere private, do you have any questions?” Mr. Wilson asked, sipping the tea Xiomara had served him.

“I have a few. First off, how did you find us?” Joaquin asked, his arms folded over his chest as he sat back in his chair. “As far as we know, our father died shortly after our mother returned from America. He didn’t know we existed, so how did you know where to find us?”

“Why don’t you two go play,” Xiomara suggested to Esmeralda and their youngest sibling, Rafael. While Argentina knew that Esmeralda no longer “played”, Esmeralda understood the true intentions behind her oldest sister’s words. She grabbed onto Rafael’s hand and led him into the living room. Joaquin didn’t take his eyes away from Mr. Wilson, watching as he took another nervous sip of the tea, his eyes wandering around the tiny kitchen.

“Yes, it’s a rather unique set of circumstances,” Mr. Wilson began. “Your--uncle received a letter upon the request of Mr. Mateo Castillo’s will. It gave a detailed account on who you were and that you’d need a guardian to look after you. We simply followed the sender’s address to find you.”

“I can look after my own family,” Joaquin said, an edge to his voice. Xiomara put a hand on his shoulder. “Besides, our grandfather would have told us if he knew our uncle. The Castillo’s don’t keep secrets.” Mr. Wilson watched Joaquin carefully, a glint in those nervous eyes that didn’t quite sit right with Argentina.

“I’m sure your grandfather had his reasons for not saying anything. Unfortunately, I don’t know, for sure, those reasons, but if I were to guess, I would assume it was the same reason your mother didn’t tell your father about you,” Mr. Wilson said. He glanced down at the cup, his spine straightening, though it didn’t make him any more imposing than a blade of grass. “While you and Ms. Xiomara Castillo are both of legal age to take care of yourselves, Ms. Argentina Castillo, Ms. Esmeralda Castillo, and Mr. Rafael Castillo are still minors and henceforth will be transferred to the custody of their uncle. You could sue for custody, but as Mr. Beckett’s attorney, I would advise against it. He has quite a sum of money.”

Joaquin clenched his jaw, his gaze narrowing on the small, fragile frame of Mr. Wilson. Argentina was perfectly okay with watching her brother tear him into pieces. It certainly wouldn’t take him long to do so. Xiomara squeezed his shoulder, her eyes on Mr. Wilson.

“Are Joaquin and I allowed to join our siblings in America?” she inquired. Mr. Wilson straightened his spine, sparing a fleeting glance towards Joaquin and Argentina.

“As per the request of the late Mr. Mateo Castillo, Mr. Beckett has extended an invitation to you both,” Mr. Wilson said. He set his briefcase, which had been sitting in his lap, onto the table. He opened it up and produced five tickets. “You are scheduled to leave at the end of the week. Pack as much as you can, and Mr. Beckett will send someone for the rest of your things.” He set the tickets on the table before snapping his briefcase shut. He pulled at his coat, standing up from the table. He nodded his head once before leaving the house.

Xiomara wrapped her arms around herself, leaning against the kitchen counter. Joaquin let himself relax as well, leaning forward to run a tired hand through his dark locks. Xiomara took a seat between him and Argentina. Argentina was staring at the plane tickets on the table, rage filling her heart the longer she stared.

“Think of it this way,” Xiomara said. “At least we’ll be together. That’s what’s most important. The Castillo’s stick together, no matter what.” She had a tendency to look at the bright side of things. Argentina knew that no matter what darkness was thrown their way, she could trust Xiomara to be there as a beacon of light. She pulled Joaquin and Argentina into a little group hug. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”

August 24, 2018

The end of the week came sooner than Argentina had been hoping. Their week had been filled with goodbyes and packing. Xiomara had made sure to pack enough clothes for everyone and some precious family mementos that she wanted to make sure made it to America. They didn’t own a lot of stuff to begin with, but leaving the house behind with some of their possessions still in there felt wrong, but there was nothing that could be done. They couldn’t exactly pack the house onto the plane, or the cab.

None of them had ever been on a plane before. Argentina sat next to Esmeralda in the middle row of the plane. Across the aisle was Xiomara, Rafel, and Joaquin. Rafael bounced excitedly in his seat, peeking around Joaquin’s large frame to stare out the window as they waited for the plane to depart. Joaquin was staring out the window. While she couldn’t directly see his face, Argentina could see the melancholy, slightly glazed expression on his face through his reflection in the glass.

Xiomara was doing her best to keep Rafael as calm as possible, reminding him to mind his manners and be respectful while she shot nervous glances at Joaquin. Esmeralda had her nose buried in a book, her knuckle white from her grip as she ignored everyone and everything around her. Argentina let out a silent sigh, simply putting in her earbuds. She let Black Sabbath and Metallica take her to her own happy place where she was still in Guatemala with her siblings and grandfather.

It was mid-afternoon by the time they arrived in New York. Unlike their small town, New York was filled to the brim with people. Joaquin immediately grabbed onto Esmeralda and Rafael, keeping them close as people bustled around them. Xiomara and Argentina went to look for their bags, receiving odd and curious looks as they did so. They huddled together awkwardly, wondering what was supposed to happen now.

“Look over there,” Esmeralda said, pointing towards a man with thin-rimmed glasses and a funny hat. He stood at a semi-empty space, holding a sign that simply read, “Castillo”. The Castillo children awkwardly made their way to the funny-dressed man. Argentina felt uncomfortable in the terminal. Unlike most people who were tall, pale, and spoke with the stereotypical New York accent she’d heard on tv, the Castillo were a dark shade of brown from spending time out in the sun and from their Mayan heritage. Their hair was as black as ebony and their eyes were the same dark brown color as the earth.

“Welcome,” the man said. He didn’t have the accent other people in the terminal had. His voice was deeper than Joaquin’s and up close, Argentina could see the grey eyes that seemed to peer through to her very soul. His piercing gaze reminded her of her grandfather’s: sharp and knowing. Under his gaze, she felt like all her secrets and private thoughts were out on display. “I have been sent to retrieve you for Mr. Beckett. I am the caretaker of his estate and the butler, Mr. Winsby.”

“Why didn’t our uncle come and ‘retrieve’ us?” Joaquin asked, sizing Mr. Winsby up. Joaquin’s English was the best out of the Castillo children. Xiomara and Argentina could speak it well, but they had incredibly thick accents. Esmeralda was better at understanding, and Rafael had only just begun to learn. Mr. Winsby didn’t flinch under Joaquin’s gaze. His face remained completely neutral, but there was a knowing twinkle in his eye.

“Mr. Beckett is in an important business meeting. While he wishes he could be here, business is business. He will be back at five-fifty for dinner which will be served at six p.m. sharp,” Mr. Winsby said. The Castillo children exchanged glances with each other before looking back at Mr. Winsby. “Now come along. I’m sure you’d like some food and some rest before dinner.”

With that, Mr. Winsby turned on his heel and began to walk away, the Castillo sign tucked under his arm. The Castillo children chased after him, for an old man, he was rather fast. Mr. Winsby led them to a big, black, SUV. The Castillo's paused their movements, staring at the car. Because their town was so small, and their grandfather believed that walking was good for your heart, the Castillo children had never been in a big car. Most people in their town didn’t have cars.

Mr. Winsby came to them and took their bags, loading them into the back of the car. He ushered the children into the vehicle and took off away from the terminal. The leather seat was unusually cold against Argentina’s skin. She focused her gaze out the window, watching as New York City disappeared and made way for the smaller towns upstate. Argentina was happy they weren’t living in the city, and that little bit of familiarity she felt brought her some comfort.

It wasn’t long before the Castillo children and Mr. Winsby arrived at their new home. A small town named Whitechapel. Driving down the roads, Argentina was able to glimpse into life in the small town. Children played out in their yards, adults talked and laughed with one another, older kids walked down the streets. Whitechapel reminded her of her home in Guatemala, and a brief hope of a similar life passed through her.

Her hope was immediately crushed when Mr. Winsby pulled into the driveway of their uncle’s house. It was more of a manor than a house, and Mr. Winsby was right to refer to it as an estate. This was definitely the richer part of the small town. Argentina stared at the house in disgust. Why would someone who supposedly lived alone need such an obnoxiously large house.

“Come on guys, let’s get our stuff moved--” Xiomara trailed off as three women came towards the car. They grabbed the Castillo children’s bags without a single word and began taking it into the house. They watched as the women disappeared into the house. “Oh. Okay then. Um, how about we go see the house,” she suggested. Argentina rolled her eyes before climbing out of the car.

“Do you think the house has secret tunnels?” Rafael asked. Argentina cracked a smile, turning to look at her little brother.

“Probably. I bet it’s full of skeletons and creepy, giant bugs,” she said, moving to tickle him. He let out a loud squeal, squirming away from her ticklish touch.

“Children! This way please,” Mr. Winsby called, peering over his glasses. His gaze was focused on Argentina, but she could see the hint of amusement in his eyes. She turned around so Rafael could hop on her back. Once he was situated, they followed their other siblings into the house.

The inside of the house was, in short, grand. There was a large entryway that led straight to a grand staircase. The floor and staircase was a white marble that had a black carpet as a walking path. A fancy chandelier hung from the giant ceiling. Mr. Winsby stood at attention in front of a long line of people, his hands clasped behind his back. The Castillo children hung back at the door patiently, watching Mr. Winsby carefully.

“Children, allow me to introduce you to the household staff. As you know, I am Mr. Winsby. This is Mrs. Lockley, she is the head of the staff and will be one of your caretakers. This is Ms. Jiang, she is the head chef. The three women you’ll recognize from grabbing your bags are Ms. Clark, Ms. Taylor, and Ms. Addams. They are also your caretakers as well as maids. Should you need something, you are to ask one of them, Mrs. Lockley, or me for it. Are we understanding?” The children nodded. He went on to introduce the other cooks and maids and gardeners and other weird job holders that Argentina had no interest in memorizing. “Now that introductions are done, Mrs. Lockley will take over. I have business to attend to.” Mr. Winsby offered a curt nod to Mrs. Lockley before exiting through a side door.

Mrs. Lockley was an old lady. She had fair skin with lots of wrinkles. She had grey hair and light blue eyes. She stared at the kids, an all-knowing glint in her eye. Argentina wondered briefly if this was what her grandmother had been like.

Rafael began giggling uncontrollably, catching her off-guard. Xiomara lightly tapped his shoulder, shaking her head. He covered his mouth with his hands, but his giggles still escaped him. Mrs. Lockley arched one of her thin brows, her head tilting down to stare at Rafael.

“Do you find something funny?” Mrs. Lockley inquired. Her voice was soft but sharp. It reminded Argentina of when their grandfather would scold them in public. He never raised his voice, least of all in public.

“Her hair looks like cotton candy!” Rafael giggled in Spanish. Esmeralda and Argentina snickered under their breath, looking at poor Mrs. Lockley who didn’t seem to understand Spanish in the least bit. Joaquin shot the girls a pointed look, subtly shaking his head as a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Rafael! Don’t be rude!” Xiomara scolded in Spanish. She gave Mrs. Lockley a small smile. “Excuse him, Senora Lockley. He is still just a baby.” Mrs. Lockley nodded at Xiomara, sparing Rafael a pointed look. He had stopped giggling, biting his lips together. He offered her an innocent smile, his dark curls hanging loosely across his forehead.

“Follow me, children. I will show you to your rooms. I’m sure you’d like to freshen up before dinner. Ms. Jiang has also been kind enough to leave something for you to snack on,” Mrs. Lockley said. She led the children up the grand staircase and to the right. She kept her hands clasped behind her back as she turned to face the children briefly. “Directly across from us is the West Wing. You are to never, under any circumstances, enter the West Wing. Everything you need is in the East Wing or on the first floor.”

“What’s in the West Wing?” Argentina inquired. Mrs. Lockley pursed her lips.

“That would be where Mr. Beckett’s room and study are. You are not to go to the West Wing. Ever.” She gave each child a pointed look. She turned on her heel and continued up the right side stairs, her steps muffled by the carpet. The children looked at each other before continuing to follow her up the stairs.

The top of the stairs led to a dead end and a hallway that stretched far on either side. She turned right and kept walking. The children followed her until she stopped at a door on the left of the hallway, identical to the other doors in the hallway.

“This will be your room, Mr. Castillo,” Mrs. Lockley said. She opened the door, pushing it inside to reveal a very plain looking room. The walls were a light grey with nothing on them. A bed, bigger than any the children had ever seen, was pushed against one side of the room. The bed sheets were dark blue and looked rather expensive. Across from the bed was a desk with a chair and a lamp. On one wall, next to the window, was a bookshelf full of old books.

“I get--all of this--to myself?” Joaquin said, taking a step inside the room. Mrs. Lockley looked at him with a scrunched up face.

“Of course. You’re a grown man who needs his own space,” she replied. Joaquin nodded, letting out a low whistle. “The young Mr. Castillo’s room is right next door.” She opened the next door, revealing a room like Joaquin’s, only it was bare of the desk and bookshelf. On the bed sat a brown teddy bear. Rafael ran past everyone, jumping on the bed. Mrs. Lockley said nothing as she went to the door across from theirs. “This is the bathroom for you both.” She turned to the Castillo girls. “Follow me.”

She led the girls back down the hallway, past the stairs, and down the opposite hallway. The girls struggled to keep up with her fast pace. For an old lady, she was a fast walker. She stopped abruptly, gesturing to a door on the right side of the hallway. She looked directly at Xiomara.

“Ms. Castillo, this will be your room.” Xiomara opened the door slowly, letting the door swing softly into the room. The room was almost identical to Joaquin’s. However, unlike his, her room didn’t have a bookcase, and instead of the desk being across from her bed, it was along the same wall, leaving a wide, empty space for her.

“Wow. This is amazing,” Xiomara said, stepping inside to fully appreciate her room. Mrs. Lockley smiled softly, nodding her head thoughtfully. She moved to the next door.

“This room is for the youngest Ms. Castillo.” Esmeralda looked at Argentina before entering the room to take a look. It resembled Joaquin’s room the most, only it had more bookshelves than his. She looked back to Mrs. Lockley before stepping into the room.

“Why do we have to have separate rooms? And why are we so far away from the boys? I don’t like it here. I want to go back home,” Esmeralda said, her Spanish coming out in one long breath. Xiomara emerged from her room, leaning against the door frame.

“I know it’s a big adjustment, but you’ll get used to it. I’m right next door,” Xiomara assured her. Esmeralda stuck out her bottom lip, moving to Xiomara’s comforting embrace. Mrs. Lockley watched, confused at the scene unfolding before her. “It’s nothing to worry about. Just homesickness,” she said to Mrs. Lockley.

“Which one is my room?” Argentina inquired. Mrs. Lockley straightened her spine and beckoned for Argentina to follow. She continued down the hallway, taking a sharp left into a hallway identical to the one they’d just been in. At the end of the hallway was a door that was different from her siblings’ doors. Argentina’s steps slowed as she approached the door. Mrs. Lockley opened it to reveal a set of stairs that spiraled up.

“A--special--request was put in on your behalf,” Mrs. Lockley said. Argentina quirked a brow before slowly ascending the stairs.

The stairs led to another door. She opened the door to reveal a room just like her siblings, only, it wasn’t exactly like theirs. There was a bed on a wire frame pushed against the side of the room with a giant vanity across from it. On one side of the bed was a small desk, the other side was a night stand. Across from the door was a giant window with curtains. Walking across the bedroom, she threw open the curtains.

Outside the window she could see the house next door. Peering out the window, she saw a bunch of vines snaking up the side of both houses. She looked down and saw a big lawn with hedges. She figured she was in the back of the house. She glanced back up at the house and noticed a window directly across from hers. Inside, a little off to the side, she could make out two boys around her age sitting on a bed. They had game controllers in their hands and headphones on their heads.

One of the boys happened to look over and spot Argentina through the window. His eyes went wide as he frantically tapped the other boy, eyes locked onto hers. The second boy rolled his eyes, looking at his friend annoyed. The first boy pointed towards Argentina. The second boy followed his friend’s gaze until his eyes too landed on Argentina. Once their eyes connected, his jaw unhinged completely. Both boys freaked out before dropping out of view. Furrowing her brows, Argentina shut her curtains. She definitely wouldn’t be opening them again.

Turning around, she was greeted with the sight of one of the maids bringing up her bag and a plate of fruit. The maid set the plate on the nightstand and the bag at the end of the bed. She certainly didn’t look like a maid. She actually looked like she was Xiomara’s age, making her around eighteen or nineteen.

“Thank you, for bringing me my bag, I wasn’t sure where it had been taken,” Argentina said, her Guatemalan accent thick. The maid gave her a crooked grin, patting the bag.

“It was no trouble, really. Compared to your little sister’s bag, yours was nuttin’.” The maid’s accent was like the ones she heard on tv, but not as aggressive. She had a slight tan and long, dark brown hair. It was pulled away from her face and rested in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She had light brown eyes that glowed in the light. “Did you need anything else Ms. Castillo?”

“Uh, no, but you don’t have to address me like that,” Argentina said. “I don’t think anyone’s ever referred to me with such… formality. Argentina is fine.” The maid nodded, giving her another smile.

“Then feel free to just call me Clara.” She stuck out her hand for Argentina. They shook, sharing a smile. “So um, how are you? I was told your grandfather passed away,” Clara said. Argentina nodded, moving to sit on her bed.

“Uh, yeah. He passed away a couple weeks ago, a bad heart,” Argentina said. She paused briefly, looking over to the vanity. “I didn’t know I had an uncle. What’s he like? Sr. Beckett?” Clara blinked, caught off guard by her question.

“Oh! Um, Mr. Beckett is--nice. I don’t really know him too well. I’ve seen him around though. He doesn’t seem too bad,” Clara said, twiddling with her thumbs. Argentina stared at Clara, tilting her head to the side. Clara avoided eye contact, her eyes shifting around the room.

Outside her door, Argentina could hear a commotion coming up the stairs. The rest of her siblings came barreling in. Clara jumped slightly at their intrusion. Rafael ran to Argentina, scrambling up her bed to sit on her lap. Two more women, the other two from grabbing their bags, followed shortly after the children. They hunched over, breathing heavily.

“Let me introduce Ms. Clark and Ms. Taylor,” Clara said, pointing to each woman. Ms. Clark was a young, pretty woman with light brown hair that was pulled away from her face. A few loose whisps escaped her bun, framing her face naturally. She had light brown eyes that had wrinkles around the creases, aging her more than she likely was.

Ms. Taylor was another young woman, close to Joaquin’s age. She had long blonde hair that she had pulled back into a braid. She had pale blue eyes and a long, wide nose. Her skin was pale and covered in tiny freckles.

“You… all… run… surprisingly fast,” Ms. Clark panted. She stood up straight, letting out a loud breath. Xiomara chuckled, shaking her head.

“We have to keep you, what’s the phrase, on your toes?” she said, shooting Ms. Clark a wink. Ms. Clark tilted her head, blowing out a big puff of air. Xiomara smirked.

“Who are the weirdos next door?” Esmeralda stood in front of the window, the curtains thrown open. The two boys from across the yard stood in the window, flexing as hard as they could--their sleeves rolled up as far as possible. Xiomara and Joaquin rushed to the window to see what Esmeralda was looking at. Xiomara raised both her brows, her mouth falling open slightly. Joaquin began laughing so hard he clung to his sides, doubling over.

When they saw Xiomara, they stopped moving. Their jaws dropped all the way to the floor as they drank in the sight of her. Argentina rolled her eyes, stepping over a still laughing Joaquin and pushing past Xiomara and Esmeralda. She gave the boys a sharp glare before closing the curtains again.

“Who lives over there?” Xiomara inquired, picking Rafael up and setting him on her hip. He hugged her excitedly, burying his head in the crook of her neck. She rubbed his back, moving to sit on Argentina’s bed.

“Evelyn Weir,” Ms. Taylor said. The Castillo children looked at her expectantly. “Mrs. Weir is one of the oldest residences of Whitechapel. She’s lived in that house her whole life. She lives with her son and grandson. She’s really nice. Everyone just calls her Grandma Weir.”

“But there were two boys in the window,” Esmeralda said.

“Probably just one of his friends.”

“You have such a nice room,” Joaquin commented, changing the topic. “Sr. Beckett has very nice taste.” He looked around the room, nodding his head. “Although your room is a bit far from everyone else’s.”

“Sorry, that’s my fault actually,” Clara said. Argentina cocked an eyebrow, waiting for her to explain. “Well, Mr. Beckett hired me after hearing about you. I was s’posed to take care of Argentina. I was explorin’ the house when I found this room. Took a quick peek and thought you’d like it. Course, I didn’t know about the neighbor boys.”

Argentina didn’t have anything to say. She rarely spoke nowadays. Ever since the funeral, she’s done her best to keep quiet, listening to everyone else fill the silence. Xiomara would occasionally try to coax her into conversations, but one pointed look from Argentina stopped her.

“Well, I think that’s enough of that,” Ms. Clark said. “We still need to get everyone prepped for dinner.” She ushered everyone out of the room, shutting the door firmly behind her. Clara glanced at Argentina before clapping her hands together.

“Welp, now that that’s been taken care of, let’s get you ready for dinner,” she said, jumping from the bed.

“Why? I’m already dressed.” Clara offered her a bashful smile, rubbing the back of her neck. She looked around, as if checking to see if there was anyone secretly listening.

“Let me tell you, while I think you look perfectly fine as you are, Mr. Beckett is, well, he’s kind of a socialite. He dines with senators and CEO’s and other big, important people. He expects a level of--fanciness--with his meals. Mrs. Lockley, while understanding not everyone dresses like Mr. Beckett, has asked me to make sure you look your absolute best.”

Argentina crossed her arms, jutting her hip out.

“And what’s wrong with the way I dress? I’ll have you know that all my clothes look exactly like this. Sorry I don’t conform to your American style, but I am not American. I am Guatemalan and I refuse to have my culture stripped from me in favor of some--some--pendejo.” Clara blinked, quite a few times. She took a deep breath before rejoining Argentina on the bed.

“I have no idea what a ‘pendejo’ is, but I do know one thing, you’re probably right.” Argentina couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing, leaning forward as she clutched her sides. Was that how she sounded speaking English? How did everyone not laugh at her? Clara smiled, rubbing Argentina’s back. “There we go. Now I know it’s not desirable, but can I help get you ready for dinner?”

She wanted to say no. She wanted to tell Clara she wouldn’t be joining them for dinner. She wanted to go back to Guatemala and pretend she never met anyone or saw anything. She couldn’t. Her siblings needed her, what’s more, this was the only connection she had left of her father. She’d always been curious about him, what he was like, what kind of man he was.

It was these thoughts that allowed Argentina to silently concede to Clara’s request. And while Clara obviously knew very little about the styles of Guatemala, she certainly didn’t do half bad. She pulled Argentina’s hair back into a single braid, letting it fall over her shoulder. She hadn’t bothered with makeup, only dabbing something on her face to hide the bags under her eyes.

“This is beautiful.” Argentina watched Clara through the mirror as she pulled one of her Sunday dresses out of her suitcase. It was beautiful, a white top with a magenta skirt that had vertical stripes going down the length of the skirt.

“Thank you. It was my mother’s. My abuelo told me she--she used to wear it almost every Sunday. I usually wear it for special services,” Argentina said, tearing her eyes away from the dress. There was shuffling behind her. She glanced up and saw Clara had pulled out a different dress.

“I’ll be back in a couple minutes.” Clara slipped out of the room, leaving Argentina alone once again. She sat on her bed, staring blankly at the wall. A loud noise drew her attention back once again to the window. Standing up, she slightly moved the curtain to peek into the house next door. The boys were back at their videogame, yelling at the tv and smashing their fingers against the controllers. She let the curtain fall shut, moving to put the dress on.

Staring at herself in the vanity mirror, this was the first time any effort had been put into her appearance since her grandfather’s death. She could barely bring herself to smile anymore, and if she did, it didn’t reach her eyes. Xiomara assured her she did the exact same thing when their mother died, but she eventually grew out of it. However, back then she had her grandfather to help her.

There was a quick knock at her door before Clara poked her head in, offering a small smile before pushing the door opened farther. She too had changed her clothes. She was now in black pants and a white button down shirt. She had minimal makeup on and wore almost no jewelry.

Argentina followed Clara down the stairs, through the hallways of the East Wing, and back to the main entrance. They took a right which led them to a giant dining room. A large table with more chairs than people sat in the middle. All around the room were old, antique paintings. Two chandeliers hung from the ceiling. They were tinier than the one in the main entrance and had a more rustic look to them.

Clara sat her near the middle of the table before stepping off into a different door. A few moments later, she was joined by Xiomara, Rafael, and Ms. Clark. Ms. Clark was dressed identical to Clara. The tiny wisps that had surrounded her face had been pulled neatly back. Even her makeup matched Clara’s.

Xiomara and Rafael were also dressed in their Sunday outfits. Xiomara had her hair pulled into a low bun, her makeup subtle. She fixed the sleeves of her shirt, sitting a few seats down to the right of Argentina. Rafael sat across from Argentina, fiddling with the strings of his colorful shirt. A giant, ugly, center-piece sat between Argentina and Rafael. He reached to touch it, but Xiomara stopped him, giving him a pointed look. She turned to Argentina, her brows furrowed. Argentina shrugged, waiting for the rest of their siblings.

It was another few moments before Ms. Taylor appeared with Esmeralda and Joaquin in tow, dressed in their best Sunday apparel. Ms. Taylor sat Joaquin across from Xiomara, next to Rafael. Esmeralda was seated on the other side of Argentina, multiple chairs between them. Joaquin gave Xiomara a questioning look, but she just shrugged in response.

Ms. Taylor smoothed out her outfit, which was identical to Clara’s and Ms. Clark’s, before disappearing into the door the aforementioned had exited through. Argentina slumped against her seat, staring around the dining room. This felt more like a fancy, formal, dining event than a supposed family dinner.

Mr. Winsby and Mrs. Lockley entered the dining room shortly after Ms. Taylor’s departure. Unlike the other three, their outfits were considerably more classic. Mr. Winsby wore a black suit with a white shirt, a colorful waistcoat, and a black bow tie. Mrs. Lockley also wore a suit. Hers was a light bluish-grey and more flowy than Mr. Winsby’s stiff suit.

“Now children, we’re going to go over some rules before Mr. Beckett arrives,” Mrs. Lockley began. Joaquin turned to Rafael, murmuring the translations. “Yes, good thinking Mr. Castillo. Thank you. Now, firstly, when Mr. Beckett arrives, you are to stand and stay standing until he has taken his seat. You are to thank him for his hospitality, you are guests after all. After that, you are not to speak unless spoken to. Should Mr. Beckett speak to you, you are to address him as Mr. Beckett.”

The front door opened and was followed by a loud slam. Mrs. Lockley straightened herself out and moved so she was pressed against the wall, quiet as a mouse. Mr. Winsby exited the dining room towards the main entrance. Argentina looked to Xiomara as muffled voices traveled through to the dining room. Xiomara shrugged, glancing over to Joaquin. They quickly stood as footsteps approached the doors. Mr. Winsby opened the door, folding his arms behind his back.

“Mr. Beckett, the Castillo children.” Mr. Winsby stepped aside to allow Mr. Beckett through the door. He looked rather young for a middle-aged man. He had thick, black hair and piercing blue eyes. On his face was a beard that reminded Argentina of Obi Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars movies. He wore a business suit that was dark blue.

He paused when his eyes fell onto the children, almost as if he was frozen in time. His eyes swept over each child. He glanced over to Mrs. Lockley and quickly cleared his throat. He didn’t say a word as he made his way to the head of the table. He took long strides and sat closest to Xiomara and Joaquin. Once he was seated, the Castillo children sat.

“It was kind of you to take us in, Sr. Beckett, including me and Joaquin,” Xiomara said, a soft smile on her lips. Mr. Beckett nodded, his movements stiff. He tilted his head slightly as he stared at her.

“We’re family. It’s what I’m supposed to do,” he said. Argentina bit her tongue, keeping her gaze down. His statement rubbed her wrong, but she didn’t want to be rude. He cleared his throat, tugging at the collar of his shirt. “I hope you traveled well.” Xiomara glanced up to Joaquin, jerking her head slightly.

“Um, yes. The plane ride was very nice. As was the car ride here. This is a beautiful town, Senor Beckett,” he said, looking to Xiomara for support. Mr. Beckett nodded again. Behind him, a clock struck six o’clock and without missing a beat, Ms. Clark, Ms. Taylor, and Clara entered, carrying two silver dinner dishes each.

Ms. Clark set her dishes in front of Rafael and Joaquin, Ms. Taylor set hers in front of Mr. Beckett and Xiomara, and Clara set hers in front of Argentina and Esmeralda. Then the three girls disappeared as quietly as they came back into the door. Mr. Beckett wasted no time beginning to cut into his meal. Rafael grabbed onto Joaquin’s hand expectantly, closing his eyes and bowing his head. Mr. Beckett paused, glancing at the youngest Castillo before looking around at the other children.

“What’s he doing?” he asked.

“Nothing, Senor Beckett. It’s just… we usually pray before we eat,” Xiomara said. Mr. Beckett nodded thoughtfully before setting down his silverware.

“Of course. How rude of me not to ask about that. Please, don’t let me stop you,” he said. Esmeralda grabbed onto Argentina’s left hand and bent her head. Xiomara grabbed onto her other hand before holding a hand out for Mr. Beckett’s. He blinked multiple times, staring down at her hand. She didn’t move until he eventually grabbed her hand. Joaquin reached for his other one and bent his head and began the prayer.

“Bendícenos, oh Señor, y estos, Tus dones, que estamos a punto de recibir de Tu generosidad. Por Cristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.”

“Amén.” The Castillo children lifted their heads and began to enjoy the meal Mr. Beckett had offered them. Every once in a while Mrs. Lockley would step forward to help Rafael with his food. While the kids ate, Argentina noticed Mr. Beckett studying each child. From the corner of her eye, she watched him observe her siblings then herself.

She wondered if it was weird for him, to see kids that looked like his dead brother. She noticed subtle similarities between him and her siblings. She could finally see where they got their thick, black hair and sharp noses. Were there other similarities he could see that she couldn’t? Did he see their mother in them? Had he even met their mother?

These questions circled around her head, but she didn’t dare to ask them. Instead, dinner was quiet, as he didn’t ask any questions, the children weren’t permitted to talk. Eventually their plates were clear and the girls reappeared. Rafael turned to look Mr. Beckett right square in the eye.

“What’s for dessert?” Rafael asked in Spanish. Xiomara quietly scolded him for his bold request. Mr. Beckett stared at Rafael for some time in quiet contemplation. Rafael stared back with an innocent gaze, occasionally sparing glances to Joaquin.

“Whatever the young man desires,” Mr. Beckett responded in perfect Spanish. Rafael clapped excitedly, turning to tug on Joaquin’s sleeve as the other children stared at Mr. Beckett with wide eyes.

“I wasn’t aware you spoke Spanish,” Xiomara commented. “You speak it very well.”

“Thank you. I have found that being bilingual in my position comes quite in handy,” Mr. Beckett said. He glanced down at his watch, frowning slightly. It was made of gold and looked like it could pay for two months worth of meals in Guatemala. “If you’ll excuse me, I have important phone calls I need to make. Mrs. Lockley, see that the young man receives his dessert. Buenas noches, Castillo children.” Mr. Beckett didn’t wait for a response before he disappeared out the door, Mr. Winsby hot on his tail

“Is he always so… detached?” Xiomara inquired, trying her best not to offend him in case he could still hear. Mrs. Lockley pursed her lips but didn’t respond. “I will take that as a yes.” The children joined hands once more for their after meal prayer.

“Te damos gracias por todos tus beneficios, oh Dios Todopoderoso, que vives y reinas en el mundo sin fin. Amén. Que las almas de los fieles difuntos, por la misericordia de Dios, descansen en paz. Amén.”

“Amén.” The children stood from the table and looked around awkwardly. They didn’t have dishes to clear away and nothing to wipe the table with. They turned to Mrs. Lockley, unsure of what to do. She pointed to the door that Ms. Clark, Ms. Taylor, and Clara had disappeared into.

They went through the door and found themselves in a giant kitchen where the aforementioned sat around an island with the head chef whose name Argentina couldn’t recall. The girls beckoned them in, patting the seats around them.

“How was dinner?” Ms. Clark asked. The Castillo children looked at each other apprehensively before back at the girls. “That bad, huh?”

“We weren’t really sure what to expect, but I don’t think we were expecting… that,” Joaquin said. The chef let out a snort, moving to open the refrigerator doors.

The chef was really pretty, just like Xiomara. She had long, dark hair and slightly tanned skin. Her soulfully deep, almond-shaped eyes reminded Argentina of two black stones peeking out from a white lake. She quickly searched the fridge before producing a carton of ice cream. Rafael clapped his hands together, bouncing in his seat with a squeal.

Ms. Taylor reached up to grab a bunch of bowls from the cupboards. She placed them in front of the chef as she began scooping out the chocolate ice cream. Ms. Clark placed spoons in the bowls and passed them around until everyone had a bowl.

The older Castillo children chatted idly with the women, asking questions about the town and what they should expect. Argentina and Esmeralda ate in silence, focusing on their ice cream instead of the conversation. Rafael was perfectly happy with half of his ice cream ending up on his face.

Once everyone, except Rafael, was finished, the Castillo children collected the bowls and began doing dishes.

“What are you guys doing?” Ms. Clark asked. The Castillo children looked at each other before Xiomara gave a little chuckle.

“Helping clean up, of course,” she said with a smile. Ms. Clark shook her head vigorously, moving to stand up.

“No. You don’t have to worry about that. That’s our job.” Ms. Clark went to grab the plates but Xiomara swiftly dodged her hands.

“It’s not your job to clean up after us--”

“No, really, it is.”

“No. While Mr. Beckett might not mind leaving a mess behind, our madre and abuelo taught us better than that. Especially when you’re company.” Xiomara moved past Ms. Clark, carefully setting the dishes in the sink.

“But you aren’t company. You’re family now,” Ms. Taylor said. Argentina roughly set the bowls in the sink before she began washing them. Joaquin nudged her softly, shaking his head. She rolled her eyes but didn’t do anything else. The Castillo children continued to wash the dishes and put them away. “I don’t know what to do. I wasn’t trained for this.”

Joaquin glanced over his shoulder, shooting Ms. Taylor a wink. She blushed slightly, turning her head away. Argentina nudged Joaquin in return, a hint of a smile crossing her face. Even in a weird and confusing time, her brother could manage to find time to flirt with a pretty girl.

“I’m sorry, your name seems to have escaped me,” Xiomara said once the dishes were put away. The chef smiled.

“I’m the head chef, Yingyue Jiang, but everyone calls me Meimei,” she said.

“Why?” Esmeralda asked.

“It’s a nickname. It’s Chinese for ‘sister’. It’s also easier for people to pronounce,” she explained. “What about you guys? If you want us to refer to you by Mr. and Ms. Castillo, we will, but since there’s five of you, a first name or nickname will be easier to remember and know who we’re talking to.” She tilted her head slightly, giving Esmeralda a kind smile.

“I’m Esmeralda.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Meimei said. Esmeralda gave her a small smile, bowing her head.

“I’m Xiomara and this little man is Rafael.” Rafael lifted his head at the mention of his name. He seemed to have more ice cream on face than he’d actually eaten. Xiomara shook her head and accepted the rag to wipe his face. He sat perfectly still as she did so before diving right back into his ice cream and successfully dirtying his face again.

“You all seem close.”

“We are. Family is everything. After our mother passed away, it was just us and our abuelo. He taught us that we worked better together than apart,” Joaquin said.

“He sounded like a smart man.”

“The smartest.” They sat there in silence for a brief moment. “I’m Joaquin, by the way.”

“Wakin?”

“Heh, not quite. Joaquin. Wa-keen.” Meimei practiced it a couple times before she got it. “Very good! Not my easiest name.”

“‘Names’?” Clara asked.

“Yes. I thought Americans had middle names,” Xiomara said.

“Oh, yeah. What is your middle name?”

“Mine? They’re Elena, Sofia, and Itzel.”

“Whoa, that’s a lot of names. Why do you have so many?” Ms. Clark asked.

“Because we have no father,” Argentina said. Xiomara gave her a pointed look as Joaquin sighed. The other women shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other. “I only mean we grew up without a father. Most families in Guatemala have two last names, our mother did as did our abuelo. Since we didn’t know our father’s last name, our mother gave us an extra middle name to fill the gap.”

“Well that’s not so bad,” Meimei said. “So all of your names are that long?” The Castillo children nodded. “Well, let’s hear them. Because if I have to scold any of you, I will use your full name, no matter how long.” She gave them a pointed look, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Well, mine is Xiomara Elena Sofia Itzel Castillo. Then there’s Joaquin Mateo Primo Benito Castillo, Argentina Carmen Luciana Perla Castillo, Esmeralda Marisol Viviana Lillianna Castillo, and then there's Rafael Manolo Sebastian Jorge Castillo,” Xiomara said, pointing to each Castillo child.

“Well those are certainly mouth fulls,” Ms. Clark said. Xiomara shrugged, smoothing her brother’s curls. Not up for conversation, Argentina excused herself, stating she was tired from the journey.

She left the kitchen, went through the dining room, and ended up back in the main foyer. Mr. Winsby and Mrs. Lockley were nowhere to be seen. She continued up the stairs before pausing to look over to the West Wing. Something deep down told her to go and demand answers from Mr. Beckett--demand he send her and her siblings back to Guatemala. Instead she turned and went towards the East Wing, down the hallways until she was climbing the stairs to her room.

Once she was safely in her room, she collapsed onto the bed. She finally took the time to notice just how soft her bed actually was, much more than her one in Guatemala. It was like laying on a cloud. She lifted her head up to look at herself in the vanity mirror. She looked so tired. More than she usually did.

She laid back down, thinking about her life and everything that had brought her to this point. She hadn’t really thought about who her father could be. After her grandfather told her and her siblings he was dead, she didn’t feel the need to ask about anything else. Maybe she should have. Maybe then she could have known what to expect when she met Mr. Beckett.

She wondered if her father was like Mr. Beckett, cold and distant, awkward around children. Was he fun like her mother? Spontaneous and hard-working? Maybe he had been more like her grandfather, kind, wise and compassionate.

She pushed her thoughts away as she readied herself for bed. There was no use in those types of thoughts. Both her parents were dead, her grandfather was dead, and her uncle--her last living relative--didn’t seem to have any interest in getting to know his family, but she couldn’t bring herself to be angry with him. After all, Joaquin and Xiomara were both adults. He had no part in their lives and his presence was too little too late.

Letting out another sigh, she buried herself in her covers. Maybe once she woke up, she’d still be in Guatemala and this would have been a weirdly long dream. One could hope.

[homeformyheart]

2021 summary of writing

this is cool reflection exercise, thanks @wayhavenots for the tag! since it’s pretty much the end of the year, i’m not sure who’s done this already. will tag a few mutuals but really, if you want to do it, please feel free to tag me!

@amlovelies; @risualto; @hunnybadgerv; @taliaferros;

January: simply be mine (twc) ft. adam du mortain x regina bishop; my 2nd twc fic ever and first one of the new year

February: desserts (twc) ft. felix hauville x harley bishop; this was the first fic in the #28dateswithunitbravo challenge hosted by @/wayhavenmonthly. i’m still super proud i was able to keep up with the entire month 💖

March: bucket list (twc) ft. all 6 of my pairings; this was inspired by some mutuals on our discord server. after all the february fluff, i wanted to write some angst 🤓

April: “cuddle me” (mind blind) ft. rosy kim x ivy park wiseman; i ignore canon for this pairing, and got to explore including aspects of my korean culture into this short piece about their married life 😊

May: permission (mind blind oc) ft. nick wiseman x nora mcconnell; i also ignore canon so i can put my oc in this universe and show how afraid she is to fall in love. this was a one-shot written for @wayhavenots and @anotherbeingsworld who tirelessly ship my beloved nora. (i’m still working on the full series, i promise!)

June: best vs. worst game (choices - my first two loves) ft. noah harris x mc; my choices inspiration had pretty much run dry by this point and i had several unfinished WIPs/ideas for my MTFL pairing, but when i got this request i felt like i could incorporate all my ideas into this one-shot and feel good about letting go of my WIPs 🥰

July: nightmares (choices - the elementalists) ft. beckett harrison x mc; this was the only fic i posted all month and it was a request. after july, my writing went downhill due to irl events 🤷‍♀️

August: sign here (mind blind) ft. rosy kim x ivy park - 18+; first MB smut fic and it happened to be the only thing i was able to finish this month

September: no feelings (twc) ft. mason x ria knight; i decided to just end a WIP i was holding on to that was 90% finished because i couldn’t decide on the resolution. i’m still happy with this as is though, even if the ending is open-ended.

October: 😭 had some writer’s block combined with a hectic project

November: i spent most of this month attempting to use nanowrimo to write more of my nick x nora series, but ended up stopping halfway through because work got super busy

December: my project never lightened up so here we are 🎊🎉

[sunhalf-a]

oc texting styles!

daria never uses caps pretty much ever, and when she’s feeling happy overuses emojis.  she uses punctuation in words (  don’t vs dont  ) but rarely uses commas or the like.  periods at the end of a message are a no - go but are okay if there’s 2 distinct sentences in one message.

alis doesn’t use caps or periods at the end of messages, but that aside uses correct grammar and punctuation.  she pretty much never uses emojis or emoticons.  queen of the single - word reply.  dry texter.

hana uses so many emoticons and explanation points!!!  no caps unless she’s SUPER EXCITED AND USING ALL CAPS!  she’s a very fast responder unless she’s dissociating, in which case it can take quite a while.  honestly, text reply speed is a good way to gauge how well hana is doing.

aika is very similar to daria, though aika mixes emoticons in with the emojis.

august only uses caps for Emphasis, and is a dry texter in the funny sense of the word.  he’s terrible at responding to texts quickly and always tells friends to just call him if it’s something important, though.  uses the sunflower emoji a lot.

mason’s texting style changes each text.  it honestly feels like texting multiple people at once.  one message there’s no punctuation or caps or grammar, next she’s texting like she’s writing a formal letter, etc.

kumi doesn’t use emojis, emoticons, capitalization, grammar, etc, but does use a huge amount of txt tlk — and, if she’s being funny, l33t sp3ak.  she’s a reliable texter despite her shitty moods, and if she doesn’t text back within a half hour, that’s a sign something’s wrong.

anastasia is queen of leaving people on read.  seriously, don’t even try.

in modern verse, soma texts almost exclusively with emoticons.  like, 0 actual words.  just emoticons.

ena uses proper capitalization but says fuck grammar.  lover of the orange heart emoji.

quinn texts like i do, which is to say any sense of capitalization or grammar or emoji / emoticon usage changes each message.  sorry bestie.

jocasta’s texting is very consistent; no capitalization of punctuation, overuse of ..., gratuitous bat emojis, etc.  however, if one of the other voices answers a text for it, then the styling can vary hugely, from full capitalization to completely impenetrable typing quirks.  jocasta will translate once she notices.

elodie and primrose both tend to mirror the style of whoever they’re texting; if you use proper capitalization, so will they, etc.  the one distinct thing is that both never use periods at the end of a message unless they’re pissed.

luella does not text unless you’re beckett or similarly important.  just call her, though there i again a nonzero chance she will ignore that too.

[faecaptainofdreams]

This character belongs to FursonaKittenMittens!! Also keep in mind that time in fandoms is a tad subjective and just depends on the moment it's projected, so while this leaps a bit into the future just...try to not harp on that too much ^^; It messes with ME a little, not gonna lie, but i love it SO MUCH, UFF. Enjoy~ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~~Sky Davis~~ Born in California to well-set parents as Joel Davis, Sky was a born and raised beach bum who could afford to live easy. His parents could not, for the life of them, keep him off the beach, and so they simply encouraged him. When he was 10, Joel took up wake boarding...mostly because the idea of him full-on surfing freaked his parents out. Around the age of 11, Joel began to consider his gender identity. He didn't feel like a boy, but he didn't feel like a girl, either. He'd always felt different, but now it was something he couldn't escape entirely. It didn't help that he personally never liked the name "Joel" for himself. After a couple of years, when he was 15, Joel discovered he was actually they, and began to identify as non-binary. They chose the name Sky, and their parents were actually quite supportive. If their child was happy, they were happy. This same year, Sky decided they wanted to someday become a marine biologist. They started scuba diving; they adored the sea life and the beauty of all the ocean held. The sun, the surf, it was all an integral part of them. Sky started studying everything relating to marine life they could, and began looking into colleges to eventually get into for their future. When they were 18, the Summer following high school graduation, Sky was out boarding with their friends, Donna Adams, Jacob Morgan and Aden O'Brian. Jacob, who was dating Donna and had aspired to become a pro surfer, was attacked by a shark and left alive, but rapidly bleeding to death. Sky and friends dragged him back to shore with attention and help from the life guard. It was a horrendous disaster of a day, and Jacob ended up dying from his wounds in the hospital. Sky was traumatized. Unable to face it, they decided it would be best to leave California all together and get away from that beautiful ocean. They told their parents that it was to go get basic college courses out of the way somewhere else, but it was a lie and their parents knew it. But there was only so much advice they could give, and because their child was now an adult, they couldn't stop them. They only offered their love and support. So Sky moved to Washington DC when they were almost 20 years old. They have visited their parents a couple of times, but haven't been in the ocean since that horrible day. ~~Partnership~~ When Sky is 24 and working at a coffee shop, they lock eyes with a 23-year-old Walter Beckett picking up a couple of things for himself and Lance before heading off to work one morning. Seeing Walter as a tad star-struck and fumbling over himself, Sky decides then and there that this boy is cute, and puts themselves out on the line by writing their cell number and first name on one of the coffee cups. Walter doesn't notice the number until he's already in the car with Lance. After days of nervous deliberation, he texts the number, and he and Sky begin talking. They quickly meet up and, despite both being shy, are relatively forward with what they thought of each other when they met in the coffee shop. Sky had had on a couple of badges with their identity colors on them, so Walter had already known they were NB. They decide to strike up a bit of a friendship, and then give dating a try. Walter has never dated anyone, so he expresses a lot of concerns, but Sky is patient and admits they're nervous, too. After a couple of months spent dating, Walter, Sky, and several other friends take a day trip to a beach a few hours away. Sky doesn't speak up about their past, not wanting to weigh the group down or reveal too much about themselves so suddenly. But once they get there and everyone is out in the water having fun, a little teasing from August (OC) prompts an anxiety-driven emotional breakdown and a flashback. Sky runs off and locks themselves in one of the cars they'd rode down in together, but Walter follows them. After picking the lock and getting to Sky and helping them calm down, Walter coaxes them into telling him what had gone wrong. A mournful Sky finally confesses, and Walter is nothing but embracing and loving. When he asks why Sky hadn't told them this, and Sky gives their answer, Walter lets them know that everyone would've been just as happy to do something else together, or even alternate between a few people doing the beach while a few others hung out with Sky somewhere else fun. He tells them that next time (because there WILL be a next time), this is what they will do. He encourages Sky to hold his hand and come clean about their past to the others later on, and needless to say everyone is understanding. They go back home at the end of the day on good terms. The experience bonds Walter and Sky a little more, and a little less than two weeks later, they become intimate for the first time. Sky will move into Walter's house about a year later. ~~Today~~ Sky is going to once-weekly therapy for their trauma, as suggested by Walter. They deeply want to overcome their fear of the ocean, as they honestly still love it and miss it dearly. They want to wake board again someday. They still work at the coffee shop, but Sky's ambition is to someday get the courage to go to college and pursue their dreams. For now, they are content with Walter, and are trying to work out their issues through love and support. ~~Personality~~ Sky is laid back and easygoing, but surprisingly smart and has a love of nature that is highly compatible with Walter and their new peer group. They don't anger easily, but they're also not the constant ray of sunshine their boyfriend is. Though of course, basically no one is. Easy to get along with, and sometimes surprisingly submissive. ~~Physiology~~ Sky is 5'7" and has a tight, lean body. They aren't overly built, but they're a tad muscular from a life having been spent on the water. In the years since the incident, they've stayed in shape with other exercise and good diet. Being NB, Sky sometimes likes to wear female clothing or a stark mix. They may also do their hair up in buns or ponytails, wear a hint of makeup, or whatever they please. Sometimes, they allow their facial hair to grow out a tiny bit, but usually not much or for long. No matter the look, Walter loves every one of them. ~~Preference~~ Sky is bisexual, but admittedly prefers men. They had a girlfriend in high school but broke up because, well, high school romances tend to be shallow, and they dated a girl after moving to DC. She was a tad manipulative and believed it was wrong for people to pleasure themselves if they're in a relationship, and reprimanded Sky for a number of things. She also tried to get them to embrace being more masculine. After a few months together, Sky felt like they were obligated to have sex with her, and so they did. It's always been something they've sort of regretted, as it only played more into her manipulation. Thankfully, the ever-calm and well-tempered Sky broke it off with her. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------

Now they are happy with Walter :”3

[alltimefail-sims]

(Halloween headcanons that no one asked for but I am sharing anyway):

🎃 Happy Halloween, everyone!! I thought I'd share some random headcanons about my Strangerville OCs because Halloween probably won't be shown in the story. Fair warning this is so long lmfao like I'm serious... it's a lot of words. I rambled a lot. But if you actually read this ily and hope you enjoy! ❤

Tashia obviously loves Halloween. Outside of her birthday or her close friends/family's birthdays, it is the best day of the year for her. She hosts a Halloween bash at the 8-Bit every year for adults and sets up a whole treats and food station outside for the kids - caramel apples, apple cider, pumpkin spice cookies, full sized candy bars, popcorn, hotdogs, etc.

On the flipside, Erwin surprisingly doesn't like Halloween all that much. He loved it when he was a kid, but he would say that all holidays kind of suck when you get older (ever the optimist lmao). He is the king of minimal effort costumes - for example, his normal clothes and a pumpkin head that he definitely doesn't take off even to smoke (I like to imagine the cigarette poking out the mouth just a little lmfao).

Beckett and Junia would costume shop together. They are only dressing up because they're being forced to anyway, so they're going to grab a bagged costume from Spirit. They're not picky, they don't have time to make costumes from scratch!

Anwar didn't celebrate Halloween for most of his childhood - he always forgets about it and has to throw something together last minute every time. He never learns.

Zoe loves group costumes and couple costumes. She's a sappy person who loves expressions of friendship and love. She's never worn a scary costume in her life. She would assert that the world can be scary enough and on the *1* day she can dress up as something, she's going to take that opportunity to dress up as something fun and happy and magical, damnit!!!!!

Tashia likes her costumes to be scary and sexy. Anwar just wants to be sexy. Beckett will always pick something super recognizable because it makes for good conversations and jokes.

Junia is an artist but has 0 creativity when it comes to dressing up and cosplaying, so she always needs help and suggestions.

Erwin and his big sister Maggie used to carve very specific pumpkin faces growing up (really recognizable, ridiculous ones basically) so he takes the time to carve a pumpkin every year and set it out for her. He figures that if she's alive and sees it, she'll know he's looking for her. And if she's not alive... well, he figures she'll at least know he never forgot her, he never gave up on her ever.

When Zoe finds out about this habit, Erwin is worried it's going to weird her out or make her feel bad for him, but instead she's totally understanding and asks if they can put one at her house too, just in case.

The gang has scary movie nights at Zoe's when they have some downtime. Everyone (except Tashia) is terrified when it's Erwin's turn to pick the movies because they're always either (1) horrifying and gross or (2) just horrifying. He takes pride in his niche horror talent.

Tashia has a "spooky music" playlist she made herself that she listens to starting in like mid-August. She thinks it's dumb that "Christmas people" get music on the radio in November and that's normal but listening to Halloween music isn't.

Halloween in Strangerville feels like stepping back in time. The streets are decorated and people are all outside participating (no houses with their porch lights off). Even the local businesses decorate and hand out candy (and the decorations they use are quite literally 30 years old lol). There are yard decorating contests and doors open everywhere, it's just got that "small town" feel and everyone is talking to everyone.

The Roswell's couldn't take Beckett trick or treating most years, but after he got sick his mom started feeling like it was important for him to not miss out on childhood experiences. She would dress up with him (he would choose the costumes and she'd wear them no matter how ridiculous) and she'd take him trick or treating. Ted always worked on Halloween, so it kind of became a bonding day for Meredith and Beckett.

Junia is tough as nails, but she hates gore with a passion. If the movie has gore, she will be watching from behind a blanket and trying not to gag (while spending the other half of the time annoyed with people making stupid decisions.) But don't point out these quirks or else she will get very grumpy with you lol.

They all tried to go to a haunted house one year but Junia accidentally got so scared that she might have punched one of the workers. Needless to say... they don't do haunted houses any more 😂.

Anwar works at a hospital (he's a nurse) and during the holidays he is always the kid's favorite because he tries his best to make it fun for them! He always has candy or little toys, memorizes innocently spooky stories to share with the older kids, even incorporates little silly spooky things in his uniform. He comes off really cool and level headed, but he is soooooo soft around kids.

Zoe has watched Hocus Pocus so much that she knows it word-for-word. She can even reenact the "I Put a Spell on You" performance perfectly. She also loves Coraline!

Erwin and Zoe binge watch the 90s Goosebumps episodes during the month of October. (Also it should be noted that Erwin can play the Goosebumps theme on guitar which is super silly).

[androace-bunny]

My WildeHopps kid!

@nexijay @trashasaurusrex @helthehatter @skeletonguys-and-ragdolls @crewefox @msitubeatz @feverwildehopps @spazziebunnie Hiya fellas! Hope you all had a good Halloween night a couple of nights ago, ‘cause I sure did! ^^

I'm here to introduce a new character I have recently come up with, quite unintentionally in fact, with the help of a certain talented Disney artist from Italy.

The artist I'm referring to, 'Nippy13' and I, again unintentionally, co-created a new Zootopia OC back in August (originally, I commissioned Nippy to draw my fursona, but somehow he came up with this guy instead), and I've been keeping this guy a secret for a while, mainly to give him some development. But now, I'm very honored to finally reveal my very own WildeHopps kid. I give you... Jason-Tobias (aka, Jay-Tee) WildeHopps!

This piece was done as a commission for me by Nivarra on FurAffinity. She did a fantastic job refurbishing Nippy's original design (which can be viewed in this link).

The only biological son of Nick and Judy (of course), and a brother of Isabelle, Todd, Violet, Robyn and Waverly (in a crossover AU of sorts idea I also came up with, which I'll get more into soon), Jay-Tee is a loyal, compassionate and ambitious fox-bunny with a huge appetite for music and playing the guitar (much like Miguel in Pixar’s Coco). He also has a big interest in video games, and cares deeply for his family.

He has the snout, teeth and feet of his mom, the ears of his grandma Bonnie, and the orange/yellow-ish fur (with bits of his mom’s grey fur, especially on the tail), body, paws and tail of his dad. He is the oldest and first born of the duo’s four biological children (five, if you count Isa, who came from a totally different side of Nick’s family).

And yes, he's named after Nick's voice Jason Bateman and the character Tobias Beckett in Solo: A Star Wars Story! He's also highly inspired by my brother John-Thomas, who also has ‘J.T.’ as his nickname and a passion for music, modern DJ music in fact! ^^